“I have noticed not a lot of people going in there,” said Paul “Pablo” Karls, owner of Pablo’s Gallery & Frame Shop, located in the Cobblestone Center. “I’ve been here for about 13 years, but back when I started, I saw a lot more people going, and now it’s just dwelled down.”

He added that the theater was “a little outdated” and lacked selection.

The cinema, built in 1971, had one screen and offered one movie a week, with one to two showings every night, said Monica Grigoleit, Cobblestone Center manager.

“It’s just one less thing to do in Tahoe,” Gordon said. “It’s always nice to keep business in Tahoe local, and unfortunately, this is one more reason to have to leave the area for entertainment.”

Incline Village Cinema, featuring one movie a week at 901 Tahoe Blvd., and Village Cinemas, with two movies a week at 3001 Northstar Drive, are the remaining North Shore cinemas.

Both are part of North Shore Theatres, as was Brockway Theatre. The Kings Beach cinema closed around late spring 2013; its space at 8707 North Lake Blvd. still sits empty.

As of Thursday, two parties were seriously interested in leasing the Cobblestone Cinema space, said Dan Hauserman, co-owner of the Cobblestone Center. He declined to reveal further details.

“What we’re envisioning will be going in there is a big step forward,” Hauserman said.

Many agree they would like the space to remain a theater.

“Not everybody goes to bars at night,” said Jaclyn Woznicki, owner of Trunk Show in the Cobblestone. “Our town really needs more nighttime activities.”

What can be done in the space and associated costs are being explored, Hauserman said.

“We’d like to get something in there as soon as possible,” he said.

“... Unfortunately, this is one more reason to have to leave the area for entertainment.” Michelle Gordon manager, Lather & Fizz Bath Boutique